Archive for
June 2nd, 2014

The Minnesota Timberwolves will return to Cedar Rapids, Iowa this fall to host a preseason game, marking the franchise’s first trip back to the area since 2002. The Wolves are scheduled to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Center. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 6 at 10 a.m.

“We’re looking forward to an incredible event in Cedar Rapids this October. This off-site game is a great opportunity to connect with our phenomenal fans and partners in Iowa and bring the excitement of NBA basketball right to their front door,” said Timberwolves President Chris Wright. “We are thrilled that this game will give back to the community by supporting the important work and programs of the United Way of East Central Iowa.”

Here’s New York Newsday with an update on the Knicks and their need for a new head coach:

Phil Jackson can now speak to Derek Fisher about the Knicks’ coaching vacancy, and that conversation could happen soon.

Fisher, 39, the leading candidate to coach the Knicks, saw his season and perhaps his playing career come to an end with the Thunder’s overtime loss to the Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals late Saturday night. Fisher is leaning toward retirement and told reporters after the game that he would need a little time to regroup and decide what he wants to do.

Jackson wants Fisher to coach the Knicks. Fisher also could be a candidate for the opening with his former team, the Lakers. He expects to speak to both teams.

“There’ll be, I’m sure, conversations and talks at some point,” Fisher said. “But this is still pretty raw and pretty fresh, what just happened.

During a weekend trip to Boston, All-Star forward Kevin Love has been taking pictures with fans and seeing the sights, leading Celtics fans to speculate that he’s going to follow in the footsteps of Kevin Garnett as the next Minnesota star to come to town and turn around a struggling franchise.

Not so fast, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders said.

“The last I knew Kevin was under contract with us, and I expect him to be playing for us next year,” Saunders said Sunday after a workout of draft prospects. “I don’t really dictate where guys go on vacation or what they do. They can go wherever they want to go.”

Love can opt out of his contract after next season, and the three-time All-Star has yet to make the playoffs in six years with the Timberwolves. He was also angered when former executive David Kahn refused to give him a full, five-year extension and instead gave him a four-year deal with a player option after three. That’s led many to believe that he will leave next summer to play for a contender in a bigger market.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced it will launch a limited-edition NBA-branded shoe, NBA Anniversary 2014, on June 6. Only 1,946 pairs will be available to commemorate the NBA’s first year in 1946. The launch will coincide with the start of the 2014 NBA Finals. They will have a suggested retail value of $119.

Each pair of shoes will be a collector’s item, identified with a unique four-digit serial number, sequentially numbered from 0001 to 1946 and includes an Official NBA Certificate of Authenticity.

The shoe features a red, white and blue design inspired by the NBA logo, while the 30 stars on the heel commemorate the league’s 30 teams and its world class athletes. The shoe is packaged in a specially crafted box with the league’s most significant milestones and the 30 team logos etched in gold on the inside of the cover.